Nartaka Festival: Celebrating Male Energy in Indian Dance
A unique, curated platform at Punyah Theatre dedicated to showcasing the grace and power of male artists in classical dance.
Announcing the 20th Nartaka Festival, held in association with Punyah Dance Company at our own Punyah Theatre. This festival is a special celebration of male dancers in Indian classical arts.
The festival includes insightful lecture demonstrations, like this one on "Naayakaabhinaya" by Shri Arjun Bharadwaj, exploring the nuances of the male protagonist in dance.
We were honored to have Dr. Himanshu Srivastava present a lecture demonstration on "Fragrances from Vrindavan" as part of the Nartaka Festival's Day 2 schedule.
The festival showcases a range of talented artists. This poster announces the solo Bharatanatyam recital by Shri Varun Shivakumar on Day 1 of the Nartaka Festival.
Another featured artist from Day 1, Shri Athul Balu, presenting a solo Bharatanatyam recital. The festival is a stage for powerful solo performances.
The Nartaka Festival embraces multiple classical styles. This poster highlights the solo Kuchipudi recital by Shri D. Dilip on the evening of Day 1.
Showcasing the grace and power of Kathak, this poster announces the solo recital by Shri Sweekruth BP, another highlight of the Nartaka Festival.
About this collection
This festival isn't just about watching a performance. By focusing specifically on male dancers, we create a space for technical nuances—like Naayakaabhinaya—that often get overshadowed. Whether it is the rhythmic precision of Kathak or the intricate storytelling in Bharatanatyam, the event brings together soloists who are defining their own paths in the classical arts.
The Nartaka Festival, held in association with Natyanjali at our Punyah Theatre in Kalkere, is about more than just taking the stage. It is about creating a dialogue between the performer and the audience. We believe that male dancers often need dedicated spaces to experiment, which is why this festival combines traditional solo recitals with in-depth lecture-demonstrations.
From exploring the feminine energy in male performance to technical sessions on classical composition, the schedule is designed to be rigorous yet engaging. We host artists from various disciplines—Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Kathak—ensuring the festival remains a vibrant, multi-dimensional space.
Our venue, the Punyah Theatre, is a black-box style studio. It was built to bridge the gap between intimate practice and public performance. There are no massive auditoriums with miles of separation here. It is just you, the artist, and the art. We keep the setup focused, providing a high-quality technical environment for sound and lighting so the dancer's work truly shines. If you are looking to support independent art or catch emerging talent before they hit the mainstream circuit, this is the place to be.
Parshwanath Upadhye
I built Punyah Theatre because I wanted a home for dancers who don't want to wait for someone else's permission to perform. The Nartaka Festival is part of that dream, a specific stage I curate to highlight the unique energy of male dancers in classical arts. Come by, watch the performances, and let's talk about the craft.
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